Device for thawing hydrants and fire-plugs.



PATBNTED SEPT'. 1o', 1907.

J. o. MOORE.

DEVICE PoR THAWING HYDRANTS AND FIRE PLUGS.

APPLIOAHON FILED P BB. 25. 190'1.

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, UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.,

DEVICE FOR THAWING HYDRANTS AND FIRE-PLUGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 190'?.

Application filed February 25, 1907. Serial No. 359,287.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES G. MOORE, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Devices for Thawing Hydrants and Fire-Plugs, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention has relation to a device for thawing hydrants and:Fire-plugs; and in such connection it relates particularly to theconstructive arrangement of such a device.

The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide a devicewith a sunken receptacle or carbureter for a volatile fuel, such asgasolene or the like, to form by the fuel and air entering thecarbureter a combustible mixture of air and gas therein; second, toprovide means for conveying the combustible mixture from the carbureterinto the chamber of a fire-plug or hydrant to heat the same when ignitedtherein; third, to provide the fire-plug or hydrant chamber with an airinlet, which, when the lire-plug or hydrant chamber and air inlet areopen and the air is heated in the chamber will permit of the circulationof air through the carbureter and thus of the formation of combustiblemixture in the same and the feeding of the mixture from the carbureterinto the hydrant chamber; and fourth, to provide the means which conveysthe combustible mixture with a cut-off valve for regulating the supplyof mixture to the hre-plug or hydrant chamber.

The nature and scope of my present invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings illustrating partly in section and partly inelevation a lire-plug surrounded by a housing forming a chamber, an airinlet, a receptacle for a volatile fuel, a pipe connecting thereceptacle above the fuel with the [ire-plug chamber and extendingspirally therein around the fire-plug, and a valve for controllingtheinlet of a combustible mixture of air and gases of the fuel into thechamber, all embodying main features of my said invention.

Referring to the drawings l represents a hydrant or lire-plug of wellknown construction, which by means of a pipe 2, is connected with awater-supply pipe or main, not shown. The hydrant l, is smrounded by ahousing or casing 3, extending beyond the pavement 4, of a street orhigh-way and is provided at its upper end with a lid or cover 5, topermit of access being had to the handle 7, of a valve 6, forcontrolling the outlet of water from the hydrant l. The housing orcasing 3, of the hydrant forming a chamber 8, is provided with anobliquely arranged extension or pipe 9, terminating at the lower end inthe housing 3, near the base of the same and at the upper end in abox-like receptacle l0, pro; vided with a removable lid or cover Il. Thereceptacle l0, is placed in the pavement 4, of the street so as to beflush with the same, and serves in conjunction with the extension orpipe 9, as an air inlet to the hydrant chamber 8. A valve I2, pivotallysecured to the receptacle l0, normally serves to directly close theentrance or inlet opening of the pipe 9.

At a certain distance from the housing 3, and the pavement 4, isarranged a receptacle 13, which by means of walls I4, is divided intotwo sections 15 and 16, communicating with each other by openings 17,arranged in the walls I4, near the bottom of the receptacle 13. A pipe18, connected with the receptacle I3, extends at the lower end into thesection l5,

and below the outlet 27, of the receptacle I3, and atthe upper endterminates preferably in a head or support 19, introduced in thepavement 4. A removable cover 20, serves to permit of the introductionof a volatile fuel, such, for instance, as gasolene, into the pipe 18,which conducts the fuel directly into the inner section l5, of thereceptacle 13, from which the same passes into the outer section throughthe openings 17. The walls 14, forming the inner section l5, serve asbaiile walls which prevent the splashing of the liquid fuel during itsintroduction into the receptacle 13, and thus the entrance of a portionof the same into a pipe or conduit 2l, terminating in the outlet 27,arranged in the upper portion of the receptacle 13, and the chamber 16,formed by the same above the level of the fuel therein. By extending thepipe 18, below the outlet 27 of the receptacle 13, and close to thelevel of the fuel therein, the highly combustible gases arising from thefuel will be retained in the receptacle 13. The pipe 2l, passes throughthe housing 3, of the hydrant l, and extends into the chamber 8,thereof, in which the same is bent so as to form a spiral 22, which fora certain distance surrounds the hydrant l. Within the chamber 8, andcontiguous to the wall of the hydrant I, the spiral windings 22, of thepipe 2l, are provided with openings 23, for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed. The fuel in the receptacle 13, vaporizes therein andcommingles with the air in the receptacle 13, and pipe I8, thus forminga combustible mixture. When-due to atmospheric conditions the water inthe hydrant I, is frozen preventing the outflow of water therefrom, thelid 5, of the housing 3, of the hydrant l, the cover I2, of the airinlet 9, and a valve 24, arranged in the pipe 2l, are opened and readilycombustible material, such as paper, is ignited when introduced into thechamber 8. The air in the chamber 8 is heated and in this condition tomaintain combustion in the chamber 8, draws fresh air through the inlet9, until the spiral 22, becomes heated, after which the cover 20, of thepipe 18, is opened to permit air to pass through the pipe 18, into thecarbureter I3, and through the outlet 27, of the same, and pipe 2l, andvalve 24, into the spiral 22, in which the air is heated. The cover l2,is then closed and the fresh air due to the expansion ofthe same in thespiral 22 is sucked through the pipe 18 and in its passage through thecarbureter 13, commingles With the volatile gases of the gasolene, whichform in conjunction with the air a combustible mixture, Which Whenissuing from the opening 23, of the spiral 22, is ignited by paperburning in the chamber S, in the form of jet ames, which by beingdirected against the hydrant l, will speedily heat the same, and thusmelt the frozen Water therein, at which time the paper introduced intothe chamber 8, to heat the spiral 22, will have been completelyconsumed. The valve 24, of the fuel supply pipe 2l, is provided With arod 25, terminating in the receptacle l0, of the air supply pipe 9,Which by means oi va square head 26, permits oi the ready turning of therod 25, and thus of the actuation of the valve 24.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, What Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent iszln a device ofthe character described, an incased fireplug arranged to form a chamber,a pipe terminating in said chamber and formingr an air inlet thereto, acover adapted to close said air inlet pipe, a receptacle for liquid fuelhaving an outlet above the level of the liquid fuel therein, a pipeterminating in said receptacle below the outlet thereof to permit thereceptacle to retain the gaseous fuel and forming an inlet for liquidfuel and air to the same, a cover adapted to close said fuel and airpipe, a second pipe surroundingl the outlet of said receptacle andterminating in the chamber of said {ire-plug and so arranged as tospirally surround the same, means arranged in said second pipe tocontrol the passage oi gaseous fuel therethrough, said air inlet pipeadapted when the cover thereof is removed to conduct air into thechamber of said tire-plug to permit of the heating of the spiral portionof said second pipe therein, said fuel pipe when the cover thereof isremoved, and said second pipe when heated, coperating to draw gaseousfuel and air from the receptacle into the chamber of said fireplug, andair into vsaid receptacle.

In Witness whereof, l have hereunto set my signature in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JAMES C. MOORE.

Witnesses t GEO. W. REED, THozuAs M. SMITH.

